At VERTICAL, it was a matter of finding the right balance in terms of aesthetics, comfort and performance for a wide variety of apartments and other spaces. How does the glass impact the look and feel from the inside? How does it perform in terms of insulation and light transmission? It's like trying to solve an enormous puzzle, but we were ultimately able to do it by deploying this innovative glass.
Amsterdam VERTICAL, an eco-friendly structure comprising 168 owner-occupied apartments spread over three zones, marks the first groundbreaking step in the transformation of Amsterdam's Sloterdijk district. Stopray Vision-70 solar control glass, a Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver product produced by AGC Glass, was specifically chosen for its ability to make a significant contribution to the project's sustainability. This insulating glass delivers transparency and enhanced comfort in the apartments by letting in maximum daylight and reducing solar gain by two thirds.
Sloterdijk has rapidly transformed from a business district into a diverse neighbourhood. Completed in early 2024, VERTICAL features a green facade that literally stands out. The spectacular design is the result of a collaborative effort between five Dutch architects, with all elements interacting to create a varied and harmonious whole. The organic consistency between the different blocks strengthens the feeling of community. The result is a new Amsterdam housing structure that is more than just a place to live. The building offers special facilities that make the residents' lives easier and more interesting.
At VERTICAL, it's all about diversity. Materials and colours may differ, but the structure focuses on one thing: interacting with nature and greenery. The building fully exploits solar, wind and geothermal energy. Rainwater and hot water are optimally used and reused. A green roof and green facade provide extra buffer capacity for rainwater. Energy demand has been reduced by combining the correct orientation of the two towers with a well-insulated shell, solar panels and the possibility of passively generating energy from the ground. The energy concept is based on self-sufficiency. In effect, the residents own their own 'power plant'.
Stopray Vision-70 also contributes to balanced energy management. Architect Chris Collaris explains the complex process of selecting the right glass. “It's not easy to design and construct a glass building,” he says. "People often think that glass is neutral, but different types of glass have widely differing colours, reflectivity and aesthetics, all of which are also impacted by what is behind the glass. At VERTICAL, it was a matter of finding the right balance in terms of aesthetics, comfort and performance for a wide variety of apartments and other spaces. How does the glass impact the look and feel from the inside? How does it perform in terms of insulation and light transmission? It's like trying to solve an enormous puzzle, but we were ultimately able to do it by deploying this innovative glass."
Stopray Vision-70 is AGC's highly selective solar control glass: no conventional product with a double silver coating has a selectivity of 2.0. It delivers a very neutral colour (Ra,D = 97) while letting in maximum daylight (LT = 70%). In addition, VERTICAL's cooling system does not have to work as hard thanks to the solar gain of just 35%. Light reflection is 15% on the inside and 14% on the outside. The low Ug value of 1.0 Wm².K also keeps the glass warmer when it is cold outside.
Not surprisingly, initial reactions from the first residents are enthusiastic. As one resident put it: "We have a 270-degree view of the Amsterdam skyline. You can see rain coming and sunshine breaking through. This view never gets boring. You have to get your bearings, because sometimes you don't quite know what you're looking at. The harbours, the IJ, the A'dam Tower, the coastline and the dunes. In clear weather you can even see the lights of the windmills out at sea."